Camera lens and display

ABSTRACT

A camera having a lens and display. The camera also includes a main camera body and a display housing. The display housing has a front side and a back side. The display is encased in the back side of the display housing. The main camera body has a front end and a back end. The display housing is movably connected to the main camera body. The camera lens is of a given diameter and is encased in the front end of the main camera body. The display housing has first and second positions relative to the camera lens. In the first position, the display housing covers the lens and in the second position, the lens is exposed.

RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/179,603 filed Jun. 25, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,006,144, titled“Video Camera Recorder” and commonly assigned, the entire contents ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference. In addition U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/179,603 is a divisional application of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/264,587 filed Mar. 8, 1999 now U.S. Pat.No. 6,556,245, titled “Game Hunting Video Camera” and commonly assigned,the entire contents of which is also incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FILED OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a design of a video camera for recording gamehunting. More specifically it relates to a video camera design that ismountable on a weapon so a hunter can records what he or she sees as heor she is hunting without the help of a third party and without thelimitations of related art. Game hunting videos are very popular to thesportsman, both as an instruction tool and a way of capturing the hunton film.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

A motion picture camera attached to the barrel of a rife is disclosed inthe U.S. Pat. No. 3,427102 (Wade). This invention is cumbersome to useand is only designed to be attached to an elongated barrel of a firearm.Moreover, its use requires the operator to physically change thestructure of the firearm.

A gun mounted video camera is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,835,621(Black). This patent discloses a device that looks like a rifle but isreally just a video camera recording device.

Video cameras mounted to firearms with head mounted video displays aredisclosed in the following patents: U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,966 (Hanson),U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,137 (Hanson), U.S. Pat. No. 4,970,589 (Hanson), U.S.Pat. No. 5,005,213 (Hanson), U.S. Pat. No. 5,200,827 (Hanson), U.S. Pat.No. 5,711,104 (Schmitz). A similar invention is disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 5,834,676 (Elliot). These patents relate to using a video camera totransmit a video signal to a head mounted video display for aimingpurposes and are generally designed for military or police purposes notfor recording game hunting.

The previous related art does not enable the use of a video camera foreffectively recording game hunting under the conditions a game hunter islikely to encounter. The need for a simple and efficient way to recordgame hunting without hindering the hunt has long been felt. My presentinvention satisfies those needs.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The above-mentioned problems with video camera systems and otherproblems are addressed by the present invention and will be understoodby reading and studying the following specification.

In one embodiment, a camera is disclosed. The camera includes a display,a main camera body, a camera lens and a display housing. The displayhousing has a front side and a back side. The display is encased in theback side of the display housing. The main camera body has a front endand a back end. The display housing is movably connected to the maincamera body. The camera lens is of a given diameter and is encased inthe front end of the main camera body. The display housing has first andsecond positions relative to the camera lens. In the first position, thedisplay housing covers the lens and in the second position, the lens isexposed.

In another embodiment, a camera comprises a main camera body, a lens adisplay housing and a display. The lens is received in the main camerabody. The display housing is movably coupled to the main camera body toselectively cover and uncover the lens. The display is received in thedisplay housing to display images received by the lens.

In further another embodiment, a camera lens and display apparatus isdisclosed. The camera lens and display apparatus includes a lens, adisplay and a display housing. The lens is used to receive images and isreceived in a camera body. The display is used to display the receivedimages. The display is received in the display housing. The displayhousing is movably coupled to the camera body to selectively cover andprotect the lens and the display.

In yet another embodiment, a method of operating a camera is disclosed.The method comprising moving a display housing containing a display froma first position that covers a lens to a second position that uncoversthe lens.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The forgoing and other features and advantages will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art from the specification and the followingillustrations of the preferred embodiments in which like referencenumerals indicate like parts throughout the several views. Referring tothe drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of thegame hunting video camera in its non-operational mode.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of thegame hunting video camera in its operational mode.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the first preferred embodiment of the gamehunting video camera in its operational mode.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the first embodiment of the game hunting camerain its operational mode.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodimentillustrating how the cassette drive and battery are accessed.

FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional representation of the components of thegame hunting video camera.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the circuit that controls the videorecorder and the liquid crystal display in the first embodiment of thegame hunting video camera.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the second embodiment of the game hunting videocamera in its non-operation mode.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the gamehunting video camera illustrating how the LCD housing member moves.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the gamehunting video camera in its operational mode.

FIG. 11 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the second embodimentof the game hunting video camera illustrating the mechanism thatcontrols LCD housing member.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of the mechanism that controls the movementof the LCD housing member for the second embodiment of the game huntingvideo camera.

FIG. 13 is an exploded view illustrating the bracket mount system.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating how the video camera ismounted on a barrel of a firearm.

FIG. 15 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the components of themount system.

FIG. 16 is a bottom cross-sectional view of the mount system locked inplace.

FIG. 17 is a bottom cross-sectional view of the mount system beingreleased by the quick release buttons.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the gamehunting video camera mounted on a barrel of a firearm.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the gamehunting video camera mounted on a bow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

My first embodiment of my game hunting video camera invention, in itsnon-operational mode, is illustrated in FIG. 1. The video camera isshown having a main camera body 10, a camera weather cover 12, a camerabase 16, a liquid crystal display housing member 18, a liquid crystaldisplay weather shield 20, a camera mount member 14, a zoom in button 22and a zoom out button 24. The video camera in its operational mode isillustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 illustrates the front side of the camerabase 16. The front side of the camera base 16 contains the lense 26 ofthe camera, a circular recess portion 34, a front facing microphone 28for recording the sounds produced by the game and normally closed SPDTpush button camera record switch 30 that turns the video camera on andoff.

An liquid crystal display housing member 18 is attached by hinges 11 tothe camera base 16. When the video camera is in its non-operationaltransportation mode, the liquid crystal display housing member 18 isrotated on its hinges 11 so it is in front of the camera base 10 asillustrated in FIG. 1. When the liquid crystal display housing member 18is in this position the normally closed camera record switch 30 is openand the video camera is off. The liquid crystal display housing member18 is held in this position by a protruding circular semi pliable seal32 that has one side solidly connected to the liquid crystal displayhousing member 18 as illustrated in FIG. 3. The other side of thecircular semi pliable seal 32 is tightly received in the circular recess34 located in front of the camera base 16. This seal connection not onlykeeps the liquid crystal display housing member 18 in thenon-operational position, it also protects the lense 26 when the videocamera is turned off. This is an important feature because the videocamera is likely to be exposed to harsh environments as a hunter pursueshis or her game. My design not only protects the lense 26 fromscratches, as the hunter makes his or her way through the woods orbrush, it also protects the lense from weather conditions.

When the hunter sees game he or she simply rotates the liquid crystaldisplay housing member 18 about its hinges 11. This action closes thecamera record switch 30 completing the circuit that starts the videocamera recording. The ease and speed in which the video camera isstarted is very important in a hunting situation because a hunter maynot have much time to react when the game is sighted. My designminimizes the time needed to get the video camera recording. Inaddition, the hinges 11 are tightly bound so that the liquid crystaldisplay housing member 18 is put in a position by the operator it willstay there until the operator once again acts upon it.

The back side of the camera base 16 and the liquid crystal displayhousing member 18 is illustrated in FIG. 4. A rear microphone 19 isplaced on the back side of the camera base 16 for recording the soundsproduced by the hunter. The back side of the camera base 16 also has aindicator light 23 that lights up when the video camera is recording. Aliquid crystal display 36 is encased in the back side of the liquidcrystal display housing member 18. The operation controls of the cameraare also placed in the back side of the liquid crystal display housingmember 18 around the liquid crystal display 36. The operating controlsare common in the art of video cameras and may include the following: amenu control 38, a liquid crystal display brightness control 39, aspeaker control 40, an on/off record switch 42, a play control 44, asearch control 46, a menu select dial 48, a battery charge connect port50, a s-video terminal 52, a audio out port 54 and a video out port 56.

A weather shield is connected by pivots 27 on the back side of theliquid crystal display housing member 18 as illustrated in FIG. 4. Theliquid crystal display 36 is activated when the liquid crystal displayweather shield 20 is rotated in an upward direction. This action closesthe normally closed SPST push button liquid crystal display switch 25activating the liquid crystal display 36. Besides controlling the liquidcrystal display switch 25 the liquid crystal display weather shieldsalso shields the liquid crystal display 36 from the weather. Inaddition, the liquid crystal display weather shield 20 has a liquidcrystal display weather shield tab portion 21 that protrudes out beyondthe body of the liquid crystal display housing member 18 as illustratedin FIG. 3. This tab portion allows the hunter to quickly flip the liquidcrystal display weather shield 20 up to activate the liquid crystaldisplay 36. The pivots 27 are also tightly bound so that when theoperator puts the weather shield in a position it will remain thereuntil the operator once again acts upon it.

The circuit that turns the video recorder and the liquid crystal display36 on and off is an important feature of my invention and is illustratedin FIG. 7. A simplified circuit is shown having a battery source 60, avideo recorder portion, a liquid crystal display portion, a relay 68,the camera record switch 30, the on/off record switch 42, the liquidcrystal display switch 25, an upper wire 72 and a lower wire 74. Thecircuit is shown, having the liquid crystal display housing member 18rotated in front of, and attached to, the camera base 16. Accordingly,the normally closed camera recorder switch 30 is in its open position71. The circuit is also shown having the on/off switch 42 in its openposition 75. If this situation occurs, the relay 68 automatically actson the on/off record switch 42 switching it to the closed position 77.This ensures that every time the liquid crystal display housing memberis rotated to the camera's operational position, the camera startsrecording automatically. The operator will not have to waste timemanually pushing the on/off record switch 42 on the liquid crystaldisplay housing member 18 to get it in the right position. When thecamera recorder switch 30 is in its closed position 73 and the on/offrecord switch 42 in its closed position 77, the circuit is complete andthe video camera starts recording. The liquid crystal display 36 isturned on when the liquid crystal display switch 25 is closed. Thisoccurs when the liquid crystal display weather shield 20 is flipped up.

My video camera has a cylindrical weather cover 12 that screws onto themain camera base 10. This is illustrated in FIG. 5. As the weather cover12 is screwed onto the main camera body 10 it comes in contact with arubber ring 41 thereby sealing the internal components from the weather.The weather cover 12 also provides easy access to the cassette holder 58and the battery 60. The operator simply has to unscrew the weather cover12 to put in a video cassette or replace the battery 60. The main camerabody 10 is also cylindrical in shape and houses the main components of astandard analog or digital video camera recorder known in the art. Thesecomponents are illustrated in FIG. 6.

The second embodiment of my invention is illustrated in FIG. 8. Insteadof the operator manually moving the liquid crystal display housingmember 18 and the liquid crystal display weather shield 20 to activatethe video recorder and the liquid crystal display 36 respectively, thisembodiment uses electronic switches. FIG. 8 illustrates the video camerain the non-operational mode. In addition to the zoom in button 22 andthe zoom out button 24, the main camera body 10 also has an on/offbutton 76. When the on/off button 76 is activated the liquid crystaldisplay housing member 18 slides out from the camera base 16 asillustrated in FIG. 9. As in the first embodiment, the liquid crystaldisplay housing member 18 covers and protects the lense 26 when thecamera is in its non-operational mode. When the liquid crystal displayhousing member 18 is fully extended, as illustrated in FIG. 10, thecamera automatically starts recording and the liquid crystal display 36is activated.

This embodiment has a remote port hookup 86 on the camera base 16. Aremote pad 78 having a zoom in the button 80, a zoom out button 82 andan on/off button 84 can be attached to the remote port hookup 86, theremote pad 78 becomes operational. This design allows the operator toplace the camera controls in a convenient location for optimalefficiency, like the forearm 100 of a firearm or the riser 104 of a bow.

Although, there are equivalent ways, common in the art, to control themovement of the liquid crystal display housing member 18, my preferredmethod is illustrated in FIG. 11. The liquid crystal display housingmotor 81 has threaded shaft 83. The liquid crystal display housingmember 18 has an internally threaded insert 85 that is threadablyengaged with the threaded shaft 83 of the liquid crystal display housingmotor 81. An “H” switch circuit controls the direction that the threadedshaft rotates. When the threaded shaft 83 rotates clockwise the liquidcrystal display housing member 18 sides into the camera base 16. Whenthe threaded shaft 83 rotates counter clockwise the liquid crystaldisplay housing member 18 sides out of the camera base 16. The use ofthis system is common in the art and an example of an “H” switch circuitcan be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,454,454 issued to Valentine entitledMosfet “H” Switch Circuit for a DC motor. In addition, a block diagramof the system is illustrated in FIG. 12.

A bracket that mounts to a weapon is illustrated in FIG. 13. The uppermount member 91 has a number of screw holes 97. The lower mount member92 has the same number of threaded screw holes 99. A foam rubber insert93 covers the inner surface of the upper mount member 91 and the innersurface of the lower mount member 92 to protect the surface of what themounting bracket is being mounted to. The bracket mounted to a barrel 98of a firearm is illustrated in FIG. 14. The upper mount member 91 isplaced over the top of the barrel 98 of the firearm. The lower mountmember 92 is placed under the barrel 98. The screw holes 97 in the uppermount member 91 are then lined up with the threaded screw holes 99 inthe lower mount member 92, securing the mounting bracket to the weapon.In addition, the thickness of the foam rubber insert 93 can be changedto accommodate different size barrels 98.

As FIG. 14. illustrates, the video camera is attached to the mountingbracket by sliding the camera mount member 14 into the track of thelower mount member 92. When the camera mount member 14 is positioned farenough into the track of the lower mount member 92 it is locked intoplace. This is to ensure that the camera will not inadvertently fall offthe weapon. The mechanism that locks the camera into place isillustrated in FIGS. 15, 16 & 17. A pair of biasing springs 107 areinserted into cavities 111 in the camera mount member 14. A pair offastening buttons 105 are then inserted into the cavities 111 engagingthe biasing springs 107. The fastening buttons 105 are held in place bya pair of camera mount member plates 103. The camera mount member plates103 have circular holes that allow the fastening buttons 105 to protrudethrough them from the force of the biasing spring 107. The camera mountmember plates 103 are secured by the camera mount plate screws 101 beingscrewed into the threaded holes 109 in the camera mount member 14.

A pair of release push buttons 115 are inserted into the push buttoncavities 116 in the lower mount member 92. The release push buttons 115are held in place by the mount member plates 114. The mount memberplates 114 are secured to the lower mount member 92 by the mount memberplates screws 113 being screwed into the threaded screw holes 117. Themount member plates 114 have circular holes in them that are largeenough for the fastening buttons 105 to fit through.

FIG. 16 illustrates how the camera mount member 14 locks into place withthe lower mount member 92. As the camera mount member 14 slides alongthe track in the lower mount member 92, the biasing springs 107 assertan outward pressure on the fasting buttons 105. When the fasting buttons105 encounter the holes in the mount member plates 114 they are forcedinto them. This action locks the video camera on the mount system. Toremove the camera the operator simply presses in on the release pushbuttons 115. This action forces the fastening buttons 105 out of theholes in the mount member plates 114. This illustrated in FIG. 17. Thecamera will then slide off the mount effortlessly. Having this simplemethod of removing the camera is important to the invention because itallows, without undue delay, the use of the camera without it beingattached to a weapon.

The first embodiment of the video camera mounted to the barrel 98 of afirearm is illustrated in FIG. 18. The firearm is shown having a barrel98 and a forearm 100. One reason for the cylindrical design of thecamera body is so it is natural for the operator to use the body of thevideo camera as he or she would the forearm 100 of the firearm. If theoperator does this, his or her thumb will be in a natural position tooperate the zoom in button 22 and the zoom out button 24 with littleeffort or movement. In addition, the remote pad 78 in my secondembodiment can be attached to the forearm 100 of the firearm by Velcro,or by some similar fashion, for ease of operation.

The first embodiment of my invention mounted to a bow is illustrated inFIG. 19. The bow is shown having a riser 104, a flexible bow element106, a cable guard 110, bow string 112, an internally threaded metalinsert 108 is shown having the counter weight bar 102 threadablyattached. A counter weight bar 102 is used to stabilize the bow when thebow string 112 is drawn back. The mounting bracket is attached to thecounter weight bar 102 the same way it is attached to the barrel 98 of afirearm. In addition, the thickness of the foam rubber insert 93 in themounting bracket can be changed to accommodate the diameter of thecounter weight bar 102. Moreover, the remote pad 78 in my secondembodiment can be attached to the riser 104 of the bow by Velcro, or bysome similar fashion, for ease of operation.

I have designed a game hunters video camera that overcomes thelimitations of a prior art. My video camera is designed for huntingsituations where the ease of the use and ability to function properlyand quickly in extreme situations and weather conditions are paramountto filming the hunting experience. Although, alternative embodiments andmodifications are contemplated, I have disclosed my preferredembodiments. In addition, changes and alterations may be made to mypreferred embodiments without departing from the spirit of and scope ofmy invention, as defined by the following claims.

1. A camera comprising: a) a display; b) a display housing having a front side and back side, the display being encased in the back side of the display housing; c) a main camera body having a front end and a back end, the display housing being movably connected to the main camera body; d) a camera lens of a given diameter encased in the front end of the main camera body; e) the display housing having first and second positions relative to the camera lens, wherein in the first position the display housing covers the lens and in the second position the lens is exposed; and f) a camera mount member adapted to couple the main camera body to a bow or firearm.
 2. The camera of claim 1, wherein the display is a liquid crystal display.
 3. The camera of claim 1, wherein display housing slidably moves between the first and second positions.
 4. The camera of claim 1, wherein the display housing pivotally moves between the first and second positions.
 5. The camera of claim 1, wherein the display housing hingedly moves between the first and second positions.
 6. The camera of claim 1, wherein the display housing further comprising a weather shield.
 7. The camera of claim 1, wherein the display is unexposed when the display housing is in the first position and exposed when the display housing is in the second position.
 8. The camera of claim 1, wherein when the display housing is in the first position the display is adjacent the lens; and when the display housing is in the second position the display is viewable.
 9. A camera comprising: a) a main camera body; b) a lens received in the main camera body; c) a display housing movably coupled to the main camera body to selectively cover and uncover the lens; d) a display received in the display housing to display images received by the lens; and e) a camera mount member adapted to couple the main camera body to a bow or firearm.
 10. The camera as in claim 9, wherein when the display housing is positioned to uncover the lens a microphone located near the lens is also exposed.
 11. The camera of claim 9, wherein the display housing is adapted to be positionable in a first and a second position relative to the lens.
 12. The camera of claim 11, wherein the display housing moves from a first and second position via an electric motor.
 13. The camera of claim 11, wherein the display housing covers the lens when in the first position and exposes the lens when in the second position.
 14. The camera of claim 11, wherein the display housing covers the lens and the display is unexposed when in the first position and when the display housing is in the second position the lens is exposed and the display is viewable.
 15. The camera of claim 11, wherein in the second position the display in the display housing faces approximately in the opposite direction as the lens.
 16. The camera of claim 11, wherein at least one control proximate the display in the display housing is operation when the display housing is in the second position.
 17. The camera of claim 11, wherein the display housing is hingedly attached to the main camera body such that in the first position the display housing covers the lens and the display is covered by a weather shield; and further wherein the display housing in the second position is approximately 180 degrees from the first position such that the lens is uncovered and the display side of the display housing faces in the opposite direction as the lens.
 18. The camera of claim 11, wherein the display housing is pivotally attached to the main camera body such that in the first position the display housing covers the lens and the display side of the display housing is adjacent the lens; further wherein the display housing in the second position is pivoted approximately 180 degrees such that the lens and display are exposed and the display faces approximately in the opposite direction as the lens.
 19. The camera of claim 11, wherein the display housing is slidably attached to the main camera body such that in the first position the display housing covers the lens and the display side of the display housing is adjacent the lens; and further wherein in the second position the display housing is slid to uncover the lens and exposes the lens and the display.
 20. A camera lens and display apparatus comprising: a) a lens to receive images received in a camera body; b) a display to display the received images; c) a display housing, the display received in the display housing, the display housing movably coupled to the camera body to selectively cover and protect the lens and the display; and d) a camera mount member adapted to couple the main camera body to a bow or firearm.
 21. The camera lens and display apparatus of claim 20, wherein the display housing has a first position and a second position in relation to the lens, further wherein in the first position the display housing covers the lens.
 22. The camera lens and display apparatus of claim 21, further wherein when the display housing is in the second position the lens is uncovered.
 23. The camera lens and display apparatus of claim 21, wherein the lens and the display are operational in the second position. 